Condiment dispenser and stopper



y 29, 1952 E. w. cLARK CONDIMENT DISPENSER AND STOPPER Filed Jan. 26, 1949 INVEN TOR.

Patented July 29, 1952 F C E" CONDIMENT DISPENSER AND srorrna Earl W. Clark, Stuart, Fla. Application January 26, 1949, Serial I Io. 72,898

This invention relates "to improvements in dispensers and more particularly to condiment dispensers for materials which are inclined to absorb sufficient moisture so as to make the particles tend to adhere together and also to adhere to the outlets or channels leading from the interior of the dispenser and to adhere to valves or stoppers which may be used to seal up or to regulate the flow of material from or through thedispensing outlets. I

One of the primary objects of my invention is to provide a condiment dispenser having a valve or stopper for the dispensing outlet or channel that will aid materially in keeping the contents dry and free running and also one that'will. not stop up or become clogged at the dispensing outlet valve orjstopper.

Anotherobject is to provide a valve or stopper for the dispensing outlet that will automatically open when the dispenser is inverted and also a stopper or valve that may be readily removed and replaced in order to permit the dispensing channelto be cleaned in case the need should arise.

I am aware that patents have been issued covering condiment dispensers having valves; stoppers or covers for the dispensing outlet and I have found that all of those which I have seen and tried have eventually failed to function properly when put into daily use.

' The dispensers and valves or stoppers shown in this invention have been made and tried out and found to function very well and to overcome the greater part of the difliculties mentioned in the preceding discussion.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent and also details of construction will be brought out in the following specifications; reference being had to the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Fig.1 is a side'elevational view of a dispenser, partsbeing brokenaway and parts being shown in section to show the dispensing channel and valve or stopper.

Fig. 2 is a view-similar to Fig. 1-, but shows a slightly difierent'type oi stopper or "valve.

Fig. Sis a view similar'to Fig. 1, but a modified type of dispensing channel isshown." i

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of one type of stopper.

Fig. 5 is a side elevation ofa slightly difierent stopper.

Fig. 6 is a sectional elevation of another design of stopper.

Fig. '7 is a view similar to Fig. 1, but shows a slightly difierent type of cap.

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 1, but shows a slightlydifierent design of cap.

9 Claims. (Cl. 222-190) Fig. 9 is a side elevation of another modific tion of a valve orstopper. 1 v Referring in detail to the drawing whereinlik'e numerals are used to indicate like or similar parts in the various figures, Figs. 1; 2.3, '7 and 8 represent typical applications of my 'invention'to con-'- diment dispensers having one dispensing'o'pening or channel and in th'e'se figuresl is the dispenser chamber or body and each of these bodies have a neck or mouth la and these necks are provided with threads which engage corresponding intermeshing threads on the caps 22. 3'is the discharge nozzle or spout member and 3a is the dispensing channel or opening therein. These nozzle members and dispensing channels may be made" of various shapes and materials to suit different methods of manufacturin'gandalso t'o-suit the valve or stopper.

In Fig. l the dispensing channel 3:! is" shownenlarged at the outer end into a conical form and is made to suit the valve i which is cylindrical in shape with a spherical bottom. This is a pre-' ferred form as it has some advantages in that-the valve seat forms a guide for the valve. id is the stem for'the valve 4; -I"find"that a very satisfactory material for this'stem is stainless steel spring wire of about twenty thousandths ofan inch in diameter, although a flexible pla'stic'ca-n also be used. This stein ia-isshown'made'up of two substantially parallel wires.-- Theupper ends have their ends bent and are cemented-into the valved and at the lower endof thestem the wires are bent substantiallyas 'showm'into'an elongated diamond shaped retainerAb with the width across the diamond made slightly greater than the diameter ,of the channel 3a, and this diamond shape acts as a retainer for the valve. Further, since the diamond'retainer is flexible, the valve unit-can be readily inserted in or removed from the dispensing channel inorde'r to cleansame should the need arise. fTh'e stern la is made of sufficient" lengthso that :when the dispenser isinv'erted', the valve 4 'willleave its seat on 3"and open the dispensing' channel -so that the contents o'fthe dispenserlmay f flow out: through the-dispensing opening-- -3iz.j The valve stem must fit loosely'in' thechannel so the valve" will open and close freely. In dispensers for material such as tablesalt, which readily absorbs moisture, it is advisable, if thesalt contacts the valvewhen flowing out of the dispenser, that the valve be made of amaterial that is of such p'oe made of cork, porous wood, chalk, plaster of Paris and ceramic filter material work very well and the salt will not adhere readily to valves made of these materials. However, if the valve is made of a hard plastic material or rubber, the discharge opening will stop up in only moderately damp weather as a slight film of moisture will collect on the surface of the valve and the salt will adhere to same. Sudden changes of temperature willtendto cause a slight film of moisture to form on valves. This film of moisture will remain on the exterior of non-porous valves and salt will generally adhere to same. porous materials the moisture willpenetrate into the interior of the valve and the salt will have no, or only a very slight, tendency to adhere. This can be demonstrated by placing valves of porous and non-porous materials in a refrigerator and then bringing them out and immersing same inesa-lt or placing a small drop ofwater on the valves. The salt will not. adhere to those valves made-of asuitable porous material; but will generally adhere to those valves made of relative.

non-porousmaterials. Materials such. as cork orporous paper. or porous wood which are poor conductors. ofheat and. have. relative low heat absorbing capacity willhave only: avery slight. condensation of. moisture formon their exteriors whenasubjcctedu to sudden temperature changes andz-I-findthatthe salthasonly a slight tendency to; adhere to these materials.

Eorbest results the valve should fit on the valve sea-tat the outer end of the dispensing channel so as tonmake areasonably. tight. closure and, fur.- ther ,-,the valve seatsso-far as possible should be for-med so that the saltwill not lodge onor adhere. to same and will be readily dislodged from the seats-and passages during normal handling of.the dispenser.

V I find that in practically all dispensers that do notehave a valve'or stopper for the dispensing opening no matter. how. they. are made or what materials aroused, thesaltwithin the dispenser. will eventually-become damp and ball' up in damp removable as the stem 4d whichmay be made of weatherand: will not flow: out. through the dispensing; outlet readily, if. at all, when the dispenseraisainverted. Gaskets-5 and. 6 preferably of. cork. are-fused. so that the discharge spout: materiaLdoes-not: contact the mouth or neck. Id. of. the container. l or the capv 2. If gasket E is not used and=3.contacts the neck la a film of moisture will .collect in the neckand the salt will build up omthe: inside of the neck. This is more. pro nounced( when .3.- is. made of a hygroscopic. material; Lhavenotexperiencedany difliculty from salt-collecting onand adhering to the stainless steel: stem- 4a in any r appreciable quantity where ittjoinszthe valve when sameis made of a hygroscopic-material. Thismaybe due to the small surface-on: same and the fact that the stern do will rubagainst. the discharge. channel during use: --The. stem maybercovered with'the valve materialover a partofthe upper portion as showndn Fig; 4, in-which case the wires-may be tied'together-just belowthiscovering so that the coveringr material will not;be.broken offduring insertion and'removal of the. valve unit.

InzFig: 2Tthe dispenser isrvery; similar to Fig. 1 with; the. exception that. the valve 'bott0mand the'seatareflat; 'I'hevalve-stem-here is-the sole guidei:for'- the valve: and-salt doesnot. adhere readilyitogthe, valve-seat. This type'of" valve and seat are: easily; made.

, In-"Fig; tithe-dispensingnozzle. 3; is formed integral'with the-cap-2 and the. valve unit in Fig. .4 is shown. The stem 40. is enlarged or covered by 4c and the stem wires 40. are tied together by 4 when do is made of a fragile material. This enlarged portion 40 serves to partly obstruct the dispensing channel and it also permits the dispensing channel to be made larger and still get a desired rate of flow of condiment material through the dispensing channel. This dispenser is especially adapted for dispensing pepper and like'condiments that are usually. ground linto finer particles than salt. I

In Fig. 7 the discharge nozzle member 3 can 'bc moulded in the cap and 3 may be made of such materials as plaster of Paris or cork.

In Fig. 8 the discharge nozzle member is a tube and .this tube is cemented into cap 2. This tube can be made of suitable paper, plastic material or a material which readily absorbs moisture.

Figs. 4, 5, 6 and 9 are enlarged views of various modifications of valve units or stoppers.

Fig. 4. has already been described.

Fig. 5 shows the stopper unit used in Fig. l and. has. been described.

Fig. 6 shows a valve unit that is not readily;

plastic material is cemented or fastened into valve 4 after 422 is inserted in the channel 3a.v

In Fig. 9. the underside of the valve 4 is shown" with a ring of cork cemented to same and isthe. valve unit shown in Fig. 8. 4 may be of any suitable material that has sufiicient weight to operate the. valve.

In the valve units shown the valve may be made of wood, plastic, plastic with cork covering the. lower portion of the valve, suitable moisture absorbing materials,.or hygroscopic materials.

The dispensing nozzle member 3 may alsob'e. made of any of the above mentioned'materials. Ifind that .plaster of Paris is an excellent material to make both the valve. member 4. and nozzle member 3v as this. material" is" easily formed and' has sufiicient strength and wearing, qualities" to stand up under the wear. which takesplace in the nozzle channel 3a andthatthis material allows the moisture to.penetrate.readilyenough so that table salt will notordinaril'y. adhere to thevalve 4 or the nozzle. member 3.

In my dispenser .showninmy. Fig. 7 Ihave used most frequently for. thedispensing head 3"plaste'r of- Paris which when wetted with. water to form a plasticmixture. sets or. hardens into; gypsum, after I haddetermined that gypsum thus formed. was sufiiciently. hygroscopic to be used asadispensing head for materials such. as table salt". Plaster of. Paris has the. unusual property ofIeX- panding when settingintov gypsum and when it is molded-while in a. plastic. state in housing. 2 this expansive force together with its adhesive and cementing qualities locks the head llsecurelyv in housing 2, and makes anexcellent andv anair andmoisture tight fit where the head 3 contacts. the interior surface of theencircling wallsof'tlie; housing 2.

In making up the head-3 I generally place. an excess of. Wetted' plaster of Parisin. housing, 2-. A ringgasket 6, preferably of cork, isnextihsorted in housing 2. Ithen place a disc offsheet. plastic; 2. little smaller than tl'ieinsideof. housing 2--next tothe underside of the gasket 6 and quickly screw the housing 2 on to the threaded. neck or mouth la. of the bottle or container I, since plaster of Paris ordinarily hardens. or. sets veryquickly. The excess plaster ofParissquirts out the hole in the top of. housingland this ex.- cess is removed. After. the-head". 3'. liasset or hardened I unscrew housing} fromneck I'a',.r'e.- move the plastic disc andreplace the housing 'on the neck. I then drill a hole 3a inhead thus form the dispensing channel.

Sometimes, when drilling the dispensing passage 3a in head .3, the head 3 becomes loosened in the housing 2 by the twisting action of the 3 and drill. This may be due to a variety of causes,;it

may be'due to hard spots in the gypsum head 3 and also to the cap not being screwed down tightly enough on the container. Ordinarily the head is cemented in the housing very tightly and must be driven out to remove same. However, when the'head 3 loosens up in housing 2 as the dispensing passage 3a is being drilled, I re-cement the head3 in housing 2 by coating the head preferably withwetted plaster of Paris, or I sometime's-use a suitable plastic cement, and then insert the head in housing 2. I then screw the housing 2 on to the neck or mouth la. In' applying the cementing coating to the head Ins? an formed head 3 in housing 2 where I use an excess of plastic cement has several important advantages.

I avoid, by completely filling the housing 2' above gasket 6, and by driving out any air therein by using an excess of plastic material, the formation of air spaces or voids between head 3 and the inside walls of housing 2. Further, by using a material-for the head 3 which expandswhe'n' setting and which also has adhesive and cementmg qualities, I lock and cement the head 3 very securely in and to the inside walls of'housing 2, which are generally smooth and difficult to cen ient to, so that air or moisture cannot enter therebetween. And by cementing gasket 6 tothe underside of head 3 I avoid air spaces or voids here and prevent air or moisture from collecting:

therebetween and dampening the gasket 6. I

If voids or air spaces exist between the head 3 and the inside of the housing 2 and head 3 is not cemented to the inside walls of housing 2 as I describe same, clamp air will be drawn into these spaces or voids during a damp cool period since the air in these voids will contract when cooled and'produce a slight vacuum. And, further, the moisture in this drawn in damp air will condense on the housing at these voids since the housings 2 are made of metal, glass or plastic which readily condense moisture from damp air when cooled. This moisture accumulates during successive periods of damp air and eventually dampens head 3 and a damp head 3 will dampen the air and hence the salt within container l. Salt will also adhere to and be absorbed by a head 3 that is damp.

If head 3 is not cemented to the insidewalls of housing 2 with an air and moisture tight joint any salt that may lodge on the top of the cap where the head 3 joins housing 2 will dissolve in dampweather and seep down between head 3 and housing 2 where head 3 will absorb this dissolved salt.

'W hen head 3 absorbs dissolved salt I find that it will not dry out but has a strong tendency to remain damp and salt will adhere to same and when this dampness reaches a certain point the dispensing passage will become clogged with salt I and the dispenser will not function.

-,When head 3 is not cemented to housing 2 it will loosenup every time the cap is removed'frorn the container and it frequently becomes crossed positioned. This results inincreased voids between head 3 and housing 2 and I find that the.

greater these voids are the quicker the head becomes damp in damp weather. 7

My salt dispensers haveproven by comparative tests to be, even when not using my stoppers, from 3 to 5 times more effective in keeping the salt within the container dry and freeflowinglthan, other salt cellars now on the market and using a solid one piece dispensing head made of a hygroscopic material and with a dispensing channel formed or molded therein and without caps or. stoppers. This is due to thefact that there are in these other salt dispensers voids or air spaces between the heads and the housings and also because these other heads are not cemented in the housings with an air and moisture tight joint,

because I find when I cement these other. hygroscopic dispensingheads of these other salt dispensers into their housings their performance is improved from 3 to 5-times.

:I find from comparative tests that it is more important,gwhere one uses a hygroscopic dispensing head, to cement the head in the housing than it is to secure an air tight fit of gasket 6 on neck Ia.

I find that in my salt dispensers the head does during normal use absorb some salt. ,How long it will require before my heacls3 become sufficiently dampso that the dispensingpassage becomes clogged I .do not know as I have not been, able-to test them long enough to find out, but it: is severaltimes longer than salt shakers: with;

hygroscopic dispensing heads now on the market, and which do not have caps or stoppers, as by'comparative tests.

When my dispensing heads 3 do become damp -v ened by dissolved salt, this salt may be removed by soaking the whole .cap in fresh water for :several hours and then drying same in a moderately l warm place for a day or so. The above dampening occurredwhen my salt cellars were kept/for testing purposes for several days, and sometimes as long as three weeks, in a covered panwvith water in same to produce a damp atmosphere and wherethe salt shakers were tested daily.

If a light material such as porouswood or cork is used for the valve 4 a weight would have to be imbedded in same to insure that the valve would open when the dispenser is inverted.

I The dispensers and valve units may readily be made in many other ways than shown'in the drawings and I do not wish to be limited to the precise details of construction set forth, but desire to avail myself of such variations and modif rial shapedto rest on and close said channel when said dispenser is in an upright position, a guiding and retaining stem attached to said valve at one end'and fitting loosely in and extending through said channel and having retaining means at the other end, said stem being of such length that proven;

geomagnwhen the said dispenser isinverted: thei saicivalve;

will leave its seatonandLopen said channeli 2. In combination; a:- dispenser comprising. .a container having a mouth, a dispensing-cap forming a closure for said-mouth, said capbeingprovided with a channel afiording communication between the interior and exterior of said container, avalve comprising ahygroscopic material shaped to seaton and close said: channel of 'suclrlength that when thesaid dispenser is-in an invertedposition the said valve willleave itsseat=on and open said channel, said stem being made up of flexible spring'material'with its-lower endformed into a flexible retaininghead having the horizontal width of said retaining head slightly wider than the inside horizontal dimension-of said channel.

3; A detachable valveand retaining unit for the dispensing channelleading from the int'erior ofa condiment container, said unit comprising a valve of hygroscopic material shaped to close said channel at its outer end; a retainingand guiding stem attached at one end-'tosaid valve and a flexible retaining head at the-other end, said=stem designed to fit loosely insaid'channel, the length of said stem between the valve-and retaining head being longer than saidchannel' and the width of saidflexible retaining head being slightly wider than the width of said channel;

4. In combination, adispenser' comprising a container having a mouth; a dispensing head forming a closure for 'said'mouth, said dispensing headihaving a channel: afiording communication betweeni the interior and. exterior of said: container; a valve comprising a hygroscopic material shaped to rest on and close said? channel when said dispenser isin an upright position, a: guiding and: retaining stem attached to saidvalve 'at one end: and extending through said channel and having. retaining means at the other: end; said stembelow said valve being coveredby a hygroscopic materialand-said stem covering being of" such outside diameter as to fit loosely in said charmel, and said stem being of such length that.

when-said dispenser is inverted the said valve'will leave its seat on and opensaid channel;

5. In combination,- a dispenser for finely dividedmaterial susceptibleto cakingwhen analafter being exposed to moist air; comprising: av cntainer having a-mouth; a dispensing head'forming a closure for said mouth,.saiddispensinghead comprising a hygroscopic materialandprovidedwith a dispensing; channel affordingjcommunica tion between the interior and exterior of said container, said head being formed and moulded. insaid month while. said material is'in' a iplastic. condition and said material having the property of setting and forming a unitaryhygroscopic body and also of expanding while setting, whereby said head is sealed in saidimouth-where saidhead adjoins said mouth.

forming a closure for saidmouth, saidcap comprising, a dispensing head and a-housing member for attaching said. head to. said.- container,

8% said head being formed: and, moulded said housing while the. material forming said head is. in a plastic condition and: said material-having the property of'settingand forming a unitary hygroscopic body and also of expandingwhensetting; whereby saidiheadis sealed in saidhousing, where: said head adjoins saidihousing; andrsaid; head: being provided with. a dispensing channel affording. communication between the. interior and; exterior of. said container. i

7. In combination, a. dispenser for. finely'die vid'ed: material susceptible to caking, when and.

after. bein exposed to damp air, comprising:- a

container having a mouth;. a dispensing: cap forminga closure for. said month, said cap com-- prising. a dispensing, head and ahousing, memher for attaching said head tosaid container; the: material comprising said head being placed in and molded in said housing to form said-head while'the said material isin aplastic condition and: said material having the. property of setting and forminga unitary body of hygroscopicmaterial and of adhereing to a contacting surface. whereby said head is cemented to the interior surface of the walls of. said housing which en circle and contact saidhead, andsaid headbeingl provided with a dispensing channel whichafiords communication between the interior and exterior of said-container.

.8. In combination, a dispenser for. finely divided. material susceptible to caking' when and. after being exposed to damp air, comprisingiz'a container having a mouth; a dispensinghead forming. aclosure for. said mouth, said head comprising a hygroscopic body havingtherein. a.dis.- pensing passage afiordin communication. be tween the interior and .exterior of said container-,. said head being placed and moldedins'aid'imoutfi while. material comprising same is. 'i'na. plastic condition and. said material havingitheproperty of'expanding while setting from a plastic. toia solid condition.

91 In "combination, a dispenserjfor finely tidivided material susceptible to caking when. and;

1 after being, exposed to damp air, comprising? a container having a mouth; a dispensing 'capi forming a closure'for said'mouth; said'cap'com' prising, a dispensingiheadf and a housing, mem'-- ber encircling and contacting said head for. attaching said head to' said container" at said mouth; said head comprising a hygroscopic body with. adispensing passage therein which affords communication between the interior and'exterior ofsaid container, and said head'being placed'and v molded in said housing while material'comprising' same is in-a plastic'condition, and-saidmaterial having theproperty-of expanding while setting from a plasticto a solid state.

EARL W; GLA'RKL- REFERENCES CITED- The following references are of record in the; file of this; patent;

UNITED STATES PATENTS Bannister Dec; 27,1949 

